Cirrus@Austlit

'On the verge of his 40th birthday, school teacher Ben Tiffen fulfilled a lifelong ambition by performing stand-up comedy for the first time. Not content with easing into mid-life in a comfy pair of tracksuit pants, Ben soon became hooked on this exhilarating and increasingly challenging artform. A Bit of a Laugh is an intimate memoir that begins with Ben's nervous debut in a pub on a Wednesday night and follows his journey into Melbourne's huge and diverse amateur comedy scene. Along the way, he meets many fascinating and hilarious people, and faces a series of personal challenges that only stand-up comedy can present. Ben learns many lessons about comedic art and the value comedy can add to our lives, as well as the importance of facing our fears and stepping outside of our comfort zones. He gains wisdom from some of Australia's most well-known comedians, and finds himself under the spotlight on stages he never would have anticipated.' (Publication summary)